Turbine.



PATENTED APR. 24, 1900.

W. CLARK.

TURBINE APPLIOATION TILED JULY 25, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR:

WITNESSES: a

HIS ATTORN YS PATENTED APRI24, 1906.

V CLARK.

TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1905.

2 SHBBTS-SHEET 2,

INVENTOR:

wmysssss Hi5 ATTORNEYS UNITED srn'gls PATENT orrron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24, 1906.

Application filed July 25, 1905. Serial No. 271,210.

To all whom a't may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CLARK, inland revenue ofiicer, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Campbeltown, Argyleshire, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Turbines for Steam and other Gases, (for which an application for a patent has been filed in Great Britain, No. 16,544, bearing date July 27, 1904,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in turbines for steam and other gases; and it essentially comprises a turbine having a spiral chamber which may be subdivided and in which the fluidexpands, the nature of the spiral being such that the area of the chamber continually increases to permit of the expansion of the actuating-fluid, and in order that my said invention and the manner of carrying same into practice may be properly understood I havehereunto appended two sheets of explanatory drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a steamturbine as constructed in accordance with my improvements, and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation corresponding to and at right angles to Fig. 1, While Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detail sectional views of modified arrangements of the bearings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a shaft or pipe which carries steam to the turbine. The steam is admitted to the shaft 1 by means of the pipe 2 through the slots 3 in the steampipe 1 but if the steam-pipe does not rotate these slots are not required. Where the steam-pipe 1 is attached to the turbine and rotates with it, bearings 4 are necessary between pipes 2 and 1, and which bearings may be of any kind suitable for the purpose and rendered steam-tight by stufiing-boxes 5 or in any practicable manner. The steam passes along the pipe 1 and thence into the .spiral chamber 6. through the slotted openings 7. These openings 7 from the steampipe 1 may be of any number, size, and shape. The steam issuing into the chamber 6 imp inges upon the concave sides of the. spiral 8.

he radius vector of the spiral makes one or morecomplete revolutions, as may be found most suitable.

To give a well-balanced effect or pressure and subdivision of the actuatin -fluid, this spiral chamber 6 may be subdivi ed into any number of parts 9 by curved spiral plates 10, and each subdivision may commence at any point in the chamber. The steam on leaving the chamber 6 impinges on the vanes 11, which are attached to rings 12, these rings being securely attached to the outer covering 13 of the turbine by bolts 14. The steam issuing from the vanes 11 asses around a spiral chamber 15 and may t ence be conducted by a pipe to the atmosphere or to a condenser. .The chamber 15 is attached to the outer covering 13 of the turbine by bolts 16. g

17 represents the side plates of the spiral chamber 6. These side plates are shown as formed in one piece with the pipe 1, so as to revolve with it; but they may be made separately, so that the pi e may remain stationary. e power may e taken from the pipe 1 or a solid continuation thereof, if it is attached to the turbineor spiral chamber 6, or if the said chamber is not attached to the ipe l, conveying the steam, the power may be taken from a ring or shaft attached to the side plates 17 or manner.

In the drawings I have shown a condenser attached to the turbine. In this arrangement the steam on issuing from the chamber 15 passes into the rings 18 and is there condensed by the cold water circulating around the turbine, the water entering by the pipe 19 and leaving-by the pipe 20. The condensed water falls to the bottom of the rings 18, and passing out by the pipes 21 is conveyed by the pipe 22 to a pump which returns same to the boiler.

in any other convenient If the turbine rotates at a high speed on the steam-pipe l, I prefer to use bearings of the kind shown in Fi 3 for the purpose of reducing friction and making the enginebearings practically steam-tight. In this arrangement steam in the high-pressure portions of the turbine pass into rooved cell 23, which contains balls for the earings. The pressure in 23 will be lower than the pressure in the turbine where the steam leaves the steam-pipe 1, the pressure in 24 less than in 23, in 25 less than in 24, and in 26 less thanin 25, and the escape-steam in 26 will be conveyed by pipe 27 through the side plates to a ow pressure portion" of the turbine. As shown in Fig. 1, similar ball-bearings may be fitted between pipes 2 and l, where the pipe 1 revolves with the turbine at high speed. In this arrangement steam from pipe 2, escaping into cells 28 and 29, is conveyed by a pipe 30 to a low-pressure part of the turbine. As

IIC

many cells as may be found convenient are put in each bearing.

In the arrangement of bearings shown in Fig. 5 stuffing-boxes are dispensed with, and one or moresets of split rings 31 are substituted therefor, while the rings 32 and 33 hold the rings 31 in position and form the ringcasing.

It will be readily understood that there are various modifications of the arrangements of the working parts which may be made without departing from the' principle of my invention. Several such turbines may be put side by side on the same shaft,.together with others which rotate 'in an opposite direction. Steam or gas, not fully expanded, may be taken from one spiral chamber and conveyed to another on the same shaft.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A turbine having a spiral chamber, plates subdividing the chamber into parts in which the fluid expands, the nature of the spiral being such that the area of the chamber continually increases to permit of the expansion of the actuating fluid.

2. A turbine, having a spiral plate and sideplates forming an inner spiral chamber, and plates subdividing said chamber into parts, in combination with an outer covering.

3. A turbine, having a spiral plate and side plates, forming an inner spiral chamber, bearings onwhich said chamber is rotated, and a pipe mounted inthe bearings and provided with openings leading to said chamber, in combination with vanes around said chamber against which the steam impinges.

4. A turbine having'a spiral plate and side plates forming a spiral chamber, and curved plates subdividing said chamber into parts in combination with an'outer covering.

5. A turbine, havingan outer casing, a spiral plate therein forming a spiral chamber, in

combination with a chamber havin curved subdividing-plates within said cham er.

. 6. In turbines, the combination comprising an outer covering having a spiral plate therein forming a spiral chamber, a rotatin subdivided chamber having curved spira plates within said spiral chamber, and vanes between said spiral chamber and subdivided chamber.

7. In turbines, the combination comprising an outer covering having a spiral plate therein forming a spiral chamber, a rotatin subdivided chamber having curved spira plates within said spiral chamber, and circulating-pipes.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nametothis specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

I WILLIAM CLARK. Witnesses:

THOMAS BENNIE BRowNLIE, ROBERT A. THoMsoN. 

